I did not get to watch the Dubs v Tyrone game until Sunday afternoon due to it clashing with our own club championship. Obviously I was aware of the result by that stage, but did not fully realise just how good the Dubs actually were until I watched a recording of the game. They were brilliant albeit against a tired looking Tyrone side. The Dubs played a fast intense refreshing brand of football that quite simply blew the opposition away. It looks as if the timing could be spot on as they have put their indifferent form from the Leinster Championship firmly behind them and are now beginning to play with enormous confidence.
Under the astute management of Pat Gilroy, Dublin have pinpointed the exact issues they needed to improve on, taken responsibility for them, and are now beginning to deliver on the big stage. On a pulsating evening of Dublin dominance, and to a Molly Malone backing track cranked up at full volume, they looked like a team with the whiff of major silverware in their nostrils. The force is very much blue now and they have put themselves in a fantastic position to drive on from here.
Gilroy has been tweaking his line up all year since the commencement of this year’s National league and to great effect. Throughout the league campaign he rarely stuck with the same starting 15. Throughout the Leinster Championship he again kept a number of his squad guessing as to where exactly they stood regarding team selection. Some critics may view this lack of consistency in team selection as causing a lack of confidence among the squad.
In some counties I am sure one or two players would have walked away by this stage. But the Dubs are different. The chance to play in front of a huge adoring fan club on the biggest days of the GAA sporting calendar has ensured that every single Dublin player remains loyal and committed to his manager’s ethos. This Dublin side appears to have it all. Most of you will recall the effort they went to last winter with early morning sessions commencing at 6.30am to ensure mental and physical dominance for the summer ahead. That work is paying off handsomely now as they look to be in tremendous shape physically. There is only one big test of character remaining and this concerns their ability to cope with the pressure that will inevitably come their way over the next few weeks.
Tyrone turned up with true intent, though lacking a smidgen of self-belief, and a smidgen is all it requires at this level to make the difference. There seems to be a compelling case for a number of the current Tyrone squad to consider their future. They were too good a team to have their reputations tarnished in any way by hanging around too long. They looked, on Saturday, like a team who need a summer break to mull over where they might go from here.
Club championship continues to crackle
Last weekend was a big one for the local club scene. Understandably Mayo senior boss James Horan tried, unsuccessfully, to have all local championship games called off to ensure a clean run of preparation for the All-Ireland semi-final v Kerry in two weeks time. I can understand why James Horan would want the games called off as inevitably players tend to pick up injuries more easily while participating with their clubs. Our Crossmolina boys were out in action against county champions Ballintubber. Both sides had already qualified for the play offs, but nonetheless every team wants to continue winning games at this stage of the competition.
It was a disaster of an evening for Crossmolina. Losing the game is one thing, but our dressing room afterwards looked like a battle zone casualty ward. Peadar Gardiner was forced out of the game early with a hamstring injury. Ciaran McDonald had to depart proceedings at half time with a similar complaint. Unbelievably we picked up a third hamstring casualty with Stephen Duffy limping away from the action in the second half. To make it one of the ugliest evenings for injuries from our point of view, Mark Leonard limped off with damage to the medial ligament of one of his knees.
Young Joe Keane is already on the sidelines with a long term injury so it is looking pretty disastrous for us at the moment. Our focus all week is on ensuring that everyone is getting the necessary treatment to give themselves a reasonable chance of being fit for the next outing. It is not looking good for a few which is enormously frustrating after a season’s effort. Peadar Gardiner has the least amount of time in order to get himself ready for the Kerry match. It will be a race against the clock for Peadar, but because he is so disciplined with regard to treatment and recovery he will give himself every chance.
Most teams had something to play for over the weekend. Several clubs were conscious of being dragged into a relegation dogfight so there was going to be an edge to most matches played around the county. Arguably the biggest game of the weekend was the clash of Breaffy and Knockmore. Both sides needed a win to guarantee a place in the quarter finals as Kiltane had also a chance of progressing. As it transpired Kiltane came unstuck at home to Ballinrobe. This result, while not a shock, certainly surprised many as Ballinrobe had it all their own way and won in a canter. With Kiltane losing so comprehensively both Breaffy and Knockmore made it through comfortably. There were several other results that caught the eye for one reason or another. Castlebar produced an emphatic performance over a Ballaghaderreen side that played minus the services of Andy Moran.
I have noticed a bounce in Castlebar manager Pat Holmes’ step in recent days which suggests that he is already looking forward to the draw next Monday night. Aughamore’s victory over Charlestown was a huge scalp for the young side’s efforts to make progress at this level. Charlestown now find themselves in unfamiliar territory after losing all three pool games as they are down with three others battling against relegation. Westport travelled to Garrymore and did the business. This again was an eye catching victory as anyone who has travelled to the south Mayo venue realises how formidable Garrymore are at home. It was a great result for Westport and means that they too can relax a little over the coming weeks. The county senior championship is now wide open and almost all of the eight teams through to the quarter finals will fancy their chances of landing a county title. There will be some interesting times ahead.
